You can contact the coastguard up to 50 miles off-shore and talk to other yachts up to 15 to 20 miles on the open sea.
If you use a marine VHF radio onboard your yacht you are required, by law, to hold a marine radio operator’s certificate.
This is a 1 day course, which on completion, you will be a competent radio operator and know the correct procedure for distress, urgency, safety by means of marine VHF DSC radio. Other subject covered during the course include Navtex, EPIRB and SARTS.
Topics covered: -
- VHF communications
- Controls found on marine VHF set
- Channels (simplex & duplex)
- VHF communication range
- VHF DSC (Digital Selective Calling)
- Distress, Safety and Routine Calling
- MMSI (Maritime Mobile Service Identity) numbers
- Ships licence and radio regulations
- Voice procedures
- Maydays, Pan-Pans etc.
- NAVTEX
- MSI (Martine Safety Information) broadcasts
- Stations
- Portable safety equipment
- EPIRB (Emergency Positioning Indication Radio Beacons)
- SARTs (Search & Rescue radar Transponders)
Requirments: -
- Candidates must be 16 years old or over
- A passport size photograph is required
- Exam fee payable on day of the exam.
YachtCom RYA VHF course
including GMDSS dates and price please
click here.
The YachtCom course is held near Southamption, click here for map.
Marine Radio Operator's Certificate
A marine
radio operator's licence is an international legal requirement.
Yachtsmen operating a VHF only radio require a
Short Range Certificate .
If
operating an SSB, VHF and Inmarsat from a yacht then a
Long Range Certificate is required.
Visit www.yachtcom.co.uk for
more information about otaining your marine radio operators certificate.
Long Range Certificate
The
Long Range Certificate is required for
operations on all marine frequencies from a leisure craft.
MCA approved course &
exam.
The course covers:-
- Marine VHF, SSB including DSC
-
Inmarsat
- Operation and procedures.
- EPIRB, SARTs and NAVTEX.
Course duration including exam:-
- 2 days with on-line e-study
- 4 days
with classroom study.
Click here for more information
Short Range Certificate
The
Short Range Certificate is required
for operations on marine VHF channels from onboard a leisure craft.
In
the UK the Short Range Certificate is issued by the
RYA.
The course
covers:-
- Marine VHF DSC radio
- Operation and procedures
- EPIRB,
SARTs and NAVTEX.
Course duration including exam:-
- 1 day
Click here for more information
On-Line e-study
Both the
Short Range Certificate (SRC)
and
Long Range Certificate (LRC)
can be studied on-line using YachtCom's e-study training package.
The LRC and SRC e-study packages have been used by mainy students to obtain
there marine radio operator's certificate.
Easy of use and informative
the on-line e-study package is an ideal way to study for your marine radio
operator's certificate. To study on-line just sign up for a course.